Co-op listeners know that the many locally-produced CDs for sale in our store reflect a level of musical talent that is beyond proportion to our population. This column bears witness to a musical expanse that spans blossoming young musicians, members of the hard-touring musical working class, and the fine wine of Moscow’s jazz elders.

A lot has happened since Charlie was featured in my December 2006 column; most importantly, he and April were married last July. Love figures heavily in Charlie’s music and the structure that supports it. It was Charlie’s then-fiancée April who precipitated his appearance on Garrison Keillor’s show. The tune “Hot Air Balloon,” one of my favorites, paints an imaginative moving picture of the ascents and descents of love. Rhythm and melody shift with the mood in this song, which stretches from the moon to the grave, always returning to love, “Nothing feels better than being your man.” And when the balloon crashes, “Make sure my casket’s built for two.” The poetry of this song is unself-conscious verbal virtuosity.

Fine lyrics are supported by excellent, almost understated, musicianship in Charlie’s songs. For example, “Three Words,” is a nicely crafted country-style tribute to the restorative power of love. “Everybody feels low down, bound to overflow, leak out something mean as a toilet bowl.” Check out the fine guitar break here, it will make you want to hear more. The instrumental stretches are spice to lyrics and tunes that will stick to your eardrums later.

Did I mention that Charlie is extremely easygoing and modest? Well, he is, so never mind the all those false accusations on “Tall Tales.” “According to your friends, I got a warrant out in 50 states, but we both know that it’s really only 48.” And this album proves that he sure isn’t lazy, as he single-handedly composed all the songs, recorded all the tracks including guitar, banjo, harmonica and his own back-up vocals. April provides sweet and subtle harmony on just two songs, “Sugar Bowl” and “Thumbnail Moon.” Charlie also did the mixing and the cover artwork, the latter with help from Eric Jacobson. Whew, no wonder he can say, on the first track, “If you look around the premises, I’m the best deal.”

Charlie’s songwriting, he says, tends to be sparked by music, with the words layered on later. You can sample the perfect fit that results from this approach on tunes such as “Milkman’s Son,” which asks the question “Did he have a taste for the liquor, and stayin’ out late into the night? Cause if he’s anything like me he’s a heck of a sorry sight.” Charlie Sutton’s songs can be lugubrious, like “Sugar Bowl,” a bluesy ballad in the style of the city of St. Louis where Charlie once made his home. “High Heels” is built on a 60’s style guitar groove reminiscent of the Ventures. Like a number of Charlie’s compositions, this tune switches effortlessly between two contrasting musical moods. This song features an especially fine guitar solo, and excellent lyrics as usual. “What is it with this human condition, do I have to pick just one religion?” There is so much more I could tell you about these songs: the nice use of musical spaces, fine vocals, and the trademark final high chord that floats above the song like a smoke ring.

But I have sad news for lovers of live local music. Charlie and April are moving to Corvallis soon, where they hope to better pursue their musical goals. So if you didn’t get to hear Charlie recently at the Green Frog Café or the Co-op, then be sure to catch him at the Renaissance Fair in May. And be sure to keep your ears open as the musical future of our hometown hero, Charlie Sutton, unfolds.